Posted by rose45 on January 15, 2016, at 4:32:32
In reply to Re: Why does mental illness occur? » john locke, posted by SLS on January 14, 2016, at 6:12:53
> Normal depression can actually be advantageous to the individual. However, major depressive disorder (MDD) would not be.
>
> Normal depression serves to prevent futile behavior that can only deplete the individual of energy and produce inordinate stress. When one becomes frustrated with repeated failures, depression subdues the individual and allows them to reflect on their failures and perhaps come up with a different strategy or quit altogether.
>
> Abnormal depression (MDD) most likely arises from a combination of genetic and stress-driven epigenetic factors. So, basically, your understanding of genetics and environment is correct. Some illnesses are more genetic than others. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are examples of these.
>
>
> - ScottWell put, Scott. I agree with you entirely. Unfortunately, the general public is not educated to know the difference, which in fact is huge. Which is why people like us, with major depression, usually do not get much sympathy from many friends and family, who think we are depressed in the way they are. In many cases, I think they dont have a clue how much we are suffering.
rose45
poster:rose45
thread:1085369
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20151225/msgs/1085413.html